(ORLANDO, FLORDIA) The Unmanned Safety Institute (USI) today announced that it has launched the first-ever online training course designed by its team of leading aviation safety experts to teach drone enthusiasts how to fly safely and minimize risk. The course, known as SAFEGUARD™, is a self-paced online course that is approximately one-hour in length, and covers essential safety topics, including understanding airspace, identifying and avoiding hazards, weather effects on drones, planning safe flights, current FAA rules and regulations, and much more.

Over the past several years, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has reported a dramatic and alarming increase in drone sightings by aircraft pilots. In 2015, the number of reported drone sightings surged to over 650 from 238 in 2014 – a 173% increase. In December 2015, a drone nearly collided mid-air with a California Highway Patrol (CHP) helicopter, which was forced to abandon its pursuit of a stolen vehicle due to safety concerns. Also in California in 2015, firefighters battling wildfires were forced to ground aircraft several times for safety reasons after spotting drones nearby. “By the end of 2016, there could be as many as three million consumer drones flying in the national airspace, posing a significant challenge and potentially serious risk to other aircraft flying with persons onboard,” remarked Aaron Greenwald, President of the Unmanned Safety Institute.

“USI has once again delivered a great training course. Aimed specifically at hobbyists, SAFEGUARD fills a much needed gap in available training options for recreational flyers. At this price, it is a great choice for anyone looking for achieve a solid understanding of important safety topics,” added Chris Proudlove, Senior Vice President – Manager Northeast Regional Office & UAS Risks for Global Aerospace.

SAFEGUARD™ delivers fundamental safety practices that are essential to recreational drone pilots and hobbyists of all skill levels. SAFEGUARD™ is available for purchase for $49 at www.FlySafeguard.com, or through our partners, including Amazon, Sporty’s Pilot Shop, and other retailers. The course may be accessed on a desktop, tablet, or mobile device, and customers will receive a Record of Achievement that may be redeemable through USI’s insurance partners for a discount on insurance.

About USI: The Unmanned Safety Institute (USI) is the industry’s most widely recognized leader in flight safety solutions for individuals, enterprises, and organizations focused on integrating and operating Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for civil or commercial purposes. The Unmanned Safety Institute, widely recognized as “best-in-class” provides UAS flight safety training and certification to operational standards based on the adoption and modification of time-honored aviation safety practices. To learn more about USI, please visit www.UnmannedSafetyInstitute.org, e-mail info@unmannedsafetyinstitute.org, or call 1-877-535-SAFE. USI is a portfolio company of ARGUS International, Inc., and is headquartered in Orlando, FL with safety assurance offices in Denver, CO. Founded in 1995, ARGUS International is headquartered in Cincinnati, OH, and actively engaged with business activities in North America, Europe, Australia, Asia, South America and the Middle East and Africa.

About Global Aerospace: Global Aerospace is a leading provider of aerospace insurance with a worldwide portfolio of clients who are engaged in every aspect of the aviation and space industries. Headquartered in London, they have offices in Canada, Cologne, Paris, Zurich and throughout the United States. Across the world they employ over 300 people. With experience dating back to the 1920s, the company’s underwriting is backed by a pool of high quality insurance companies representing some of the most respected names in the business. For additional information on Global Aerospace, please visit www.global-aero.com. To learn more about the company’s SM4 safety program, please visit sm4.global-aero.com.